PS-FACHO (Vereda do Pico do Facho) is a 1.4 km each way (2.8 km round trip), medium, community route. Cost: free. Whether it is worth hiking right now depends on live conditions and today's official status, re-checked every 20 minutes in the live app.
Porto Santo, Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 516m up here. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
At 516m, Vereda do Pico do Facho makes its own weather. A coastal forecast will not tell you what today looks like up here. The pass reads the live conditions on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Vereda do Pico do Facho as a free GPX file, no signup. Load it into Garmin, Komoot, AllTrails, Gaia GPS or OsmAnd and follow the route offline, even where there is no phone signal.
ⓘ Source & safety
Track and waypoints from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Planning aid, not a safety guarantee. Check the official trail status and conditions before you go.Estimated hiking time
48min
About Vereda do Pico do Facho
The highest point of Porto Santo at 516 m, named for the beacon fires once lit here to warn of pirate sails, relayed peak to peak all the way to Funchal. A dirt service track contours from the Pico do Castelo road end along the north flank to the antennas just below the top, and the last stretch is a short rocky scramble with no formed path. From the summit the whole island lays out below, from Vila Baleira and the nine kilometres of beach to the islets offshore.
Vereda do Pico do Facho (PS-FACHO) is a round trip route of about 2.8 km in Porto Santo.
What you'll see
Expect a mountain summit, panoramic viewpoints, laurel forest (laurisilva) and historic features.
Landmarks on the route include Facho and Gandaia.
The path runs between roughly 328 m and 516 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Pico do Facho rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 2.8 km round trip, 308 m of ascent and some exposed sections.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 1h 15m for the round trip (you return the same way).
The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.
Getting there and back
Starts at Estrada do Pico do Castelo road end. Ends at Pico do Facho summit (516 m). No car park is mapped at the start, so plan to leave the car on the road nearby.
What to bring
Water and sun protection (no facilities en route); sturdy shoes for the loose rocky summit stretch
Best time to walk it
Year-round; avoid midday in summer (dry, sun-exposed island)
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
This route is mostly open to the sun, so it bites on a hot, clear day. Start early and carry more water than you think you need.
The sun and shade reading comes from the slope's aspect and steepness, so it describes terrain shading and not tree cover.
A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vereda do Pico do Facho worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Vereda do Pico do Facho, the safe-start window, how busy it is and the official IFCN status, then gives one honest go-or-wait score from 0 to 100, re-checked every 20 minutes. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance: an official IFCN closure always overrides the score, no matter how good the weather looks.
How long is Vereda do Pico do Facho?
Vereda do Pico do Facho is about 2.8 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda do Pico do Facho?
Vereda do Pico do Facho rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Vereda do Pico do Facho safe?
Vereda do Pico do Facho has some exposed sections, where the path runs close to a drop. None of that tells you about today, and this page does not try to. Conditions decide, which is why Levadas reads the current weather on Vereda do Pico do Facho, the safe-start window and the official IFCN status, then gives one go-or-wait score from 0 to 100. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance, and an official IFCN closure overrides the score however good the weather looks.
How long does Vereda do Pico do Facho take to walk?
Allow about 1h 15m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Pico do Facho?
Yes. Tap Download GPX on this page: the first download on any device asks for an email so we can also send the free trail pack, then every later trail downloads instantly.
Is Vereda do Pico do Facho free to walk?
Yes. Vereda do Pico do Facho needs no reservation and has no fee. Only the regulated official PR trails require a paid SIMplifica booking; this one you simply walk.
Where does Vereda do Pico do Facho start and finish?
Vereda do Pico do Facho starts at Estrada do Pico do Castelo road end and finishes at Pico do Facho summit (516 m).
What will I see on Vereda do Pico do Facho?
Highlights include a mountain summit, panoramic viewpoints, laurel forest (laurisilva) and historic features.
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Pico do Facho?
Year-round; avoid midday in summer (dry, sun-exposed island)
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Pico do Facho?
Levadas scores Vereda do Pico do Facho from 0 to 100 using live weather along the path and the official status, refreshed every 20 minutes. You also see how busy it is. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.